Greg Jennings visiting the Vikings

Free agent receiver Greg Jennings may be leaving Green Bay but staying in the NFC North.

Jennings is visiting the Vikings today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

The Vikings have been widely reported to be interested in Jennings, especially after they traded away Percy Harvin and needed to pick up a playmaker in their passing game. Jennings would add an element to Minnesota’s offense that’s currently missing. The Vikings know first-hand how good Jennings can be; his best game last year was an eight-catch, 120-yard, two-touchdown performance in Minnesota.

The 29-year-old Jennings had a disappointing, injury-plagued season in 2012, but he’s still a difference maker, and he’s the top unrestricted free agent who’s still available on our Free Agent Hot 100.

Why is that the first thing a Packer fan says? “Oh the Vikings are picking up another ex Packer”

What should the Vikings do? “Well, we hate the packers so lets never pick up one in free agency, no matter how much it may help us”!

Do you realize how dumb you actually sound saying that? According to you, no team should pick up any free agent player! According to you, the Vikings never pick up anyone unless they were once a Packer! Stop trying to just annoy people with lame comments! I suppose your next comment will be, “Well how many superbowls have you won”? Come up with some new material!

cusoman says:Mar 14, 2013 7:30 AM

jhein23 says:
Mar 14, 2013 7:12 AM
For as much as their fans hate the Packers they sure love signing them up as soon as they become FA’s.

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I love that people say this all the time. Every time I hear someone say that, I always ask them to name 5 – they can’t.

Sharper, Favre, Longwell, and now maybe Jennings. That’s it and really not a long list – y’all over-exaggerate.

C’mon Vikes!! Have a little respect for yourself. Y’all like a psycho ex-boyfriend going through the trash looking for a used pair of panties to take home with you.

And to the guy who says no one can name 5 ex-Packers signed by the Vikings . . . 4 is close enough and I guarantee there is no there team that has signed more players from a division rival then the Vikings have from the Packers. Just admit it . . . the Vikings are obsessed with the Packers and are into sloppy seconds.

oldlineman says:Mar 14, 2013 7:48 AM

Packer fans just can’t stand the fact one of theirs wants to get out of that city, but they sure love to leave their state in droves to work over here. I drop to my knees every night and pray to God they would all go back where they belong. They all all deserve each other!! Keep Jennings and stay home!!

uwsptke says:Mar 14, 2013 7:49 AM

Favre, Sharper, Longwell, Robert Ferguson. Vikings signed Aaron Kampman when he was an RFA which the Packers matched. They actively pursued William Henderson (who decided to retire instead) and Antonio Freeman, and then there was the Donald Driver rumors. This “Vikings love old Packers” isn’t some figment of Packer fans’ imagination.

If we get jennings that will be piece #2 to our WR problem. All that would be left is to draft DeAndre Hopkins and our WRs will be better than we hit the playoffs with.
Now on to Packer fan, who will be hollerin “leftovers”. OK, so your paranoid, just admit it. Let’s look at history, when you decided to go with Rogers, knowing Favre wanted to go to Minny, you traded him and put a stipulation in the contract that he could not be traded to Minnesota in that first year. How paranoid is that? Grow up, its a business.

Robert Ferguson, Darren Sharper, Ryan Longwell, Brett Favre and several others as well over the last decade.

I think this would be a good signing for the Vikings. It would eliminate the chance of Greg Jennings signing with the Packers, thus, removing one more weapon as well as give them a WR that is an exceptional route runner. Jennings won’t benefit at all from having Christian Ponder at QB, but should benefit greatly with Adrian Peterson pulling the Safeties in close to the line.

The name gives my allegiance away, and I’m also a very big Jennings fan. If he signs with the Vikings … its just a “meh” kinda feeling to me.

bobo316 says:
Mar 14, 2013 7:28 AM
Why is that the first thing a Packer fan says? “Oh the Vikings are picking up another ex Packer”

What should the Vikings do? “Well, we hate the packers so lets never pick up one in free agency, no matter how much it may help us”!

Do you realize how dumb you actually sound saying that? According to you, no team should pick up any free agent player! According to you, the Vikings never pick up anyone unless they were once a Packer! Stop trying to just annoy people with lame comments! I suppose your next comment will be, “Well how many superbowls have you won”? Come up with some new material!

———————————————————————————————————————————————— what else should the vikings do???? um draft and coach young players, scout and sign young undrafted players who could make your roster. if the viking’s sign greg i wish him the best, it’s a business i get it. but even viking’s fans have to scratch there heads and wonder why they keep signing or trying to sign the packers ex-players??? don’t they??? or wonder how the vikings could draft 2 players ahead of a qb like aaron rodger’s and that they still have questions at qb??? is this new enough for ya?? if i were a viking’s fan and they signed greg i would probably just start watching college football.

irishgary says:Mar 14, 2013 8:21 AM

I believe Jennings is trying to use this as leverage, it won’t work, the Packers have one of the best and deepest receivng group in the NFL

Didn’t Jennings say that playing with a great QB would be a big factor in his choice? A visit to Minnesota would seem to indicate that getting the right numbers on a contract is a far bigger factor in his choice.

There is nothing wrong with that. That’s the business side of the NFL. I’m guessing not many people bought into that load of BS when he said it originally.

@cusoman, don’t forget about Robert Ferguson and Javon Walker(though he was passed around a few times before he ended up trying out for the Vikings).

@fredsingleton, stereotyping all packer fans as arrogant and ignorant because of trolls on this website is also ignorant. We’re not all like that, just as I wouldn’t stereotype every Viking fan as jealous and ignorant fans based on what I’ve read on here over the years. I don’t know you and you don’t know me. Your comment lowers yourself to the level of the packer and Viking trolls.

hodag54501 says:Mar 14, 2013 8:25 AM

TOLD YA! About 10 days ago on this website I predicted this would happen.
In Green Bay it’s down to resigning Jennings or signing Steven Jackson. Green Bay has some good receivers, so his loss to the passing attack would not be fatal.
Jackson, on the other hand, would provide a real running threat, something the Packers haven’t had in awhile. The Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel said it was down to Jennings or Jackson moneywise. I hope Jennings signs. The Vikings are contenders either way, but with Jackson, the Packers will be better able to control the ball. Even if he is here for only a couple of years it would be good.
It also impacts Jermichael Finley who might be cut if Jennings signs with Green Bay. There’s only one football and many hands.

jhein23 says:
Mar 14, 2013 7:12 AM
For as much as their fans hate the Packers they sure love signing them up as soon as they become FA’s.

—————————

I love that people say this all the time. Every time I hear someone say that, I always ask them to name 5 – they can’t.

Sharper, Favre, Longwell, and now maybe Jennings. That’s it and really not a long list – y’all over-exaggerate.

———————

That is 3 more stars the Vikings have plucked from Green Bay than Green Bay has taken from the Vikings.. Jennings would be 4.. How many previous NFC North players do you think Green Bay or Chicago signs? But hey, if the Vikings want to keep plucking out stars that are going out of their prime, that is fine. I think it has been proven that strategy doesn’t lead to Super Bowls though…

We HAVE to do this! Yes, he’s a little older than desired and maybe a little injury prone, but he’s still a VERY good receiver and route runner. Besides, look at our current “receiver cupboard”. Very Mother Hubbard like. Get this guy, add another receiver with the first draft pick, and then a tackle, corner, or D lineman and let’s go!!

Give it a break, Packer fans! Players going from one division rival to another has been happening in the NFL forever. Its not just a Packer/Viking thing. The loyalty we all have for our teams often isn’t shared by the players. To most of them, one team is the same as another. Its just business. Jennings has a ring. At 29 he knows this is his last chance at a big money deal. That’s all he’s looking for. As long as the Vikings don’t over pay him this would be a good move.

Typical Vikes. Take one of your new first round picks, put together a big offer for Cruz, and grab the younger wideout. Jennings is a good player and can help, but is clearly on the downside of his career. Victor Cruz is still ascending – and the price tag, especially with the Giants being strapped against the cap, is fairly low.

I love that people say this all the time. Every time I hear someone say that, I always ask them to name 5 – they can’t.

Sharper, Favre, Longwell, and now maybe Jennings. That’s it and really not a long list – y’all over-exaggerate.
——————————————————-
Add Robert Ferguson and Esera Tuaolo to the list and there is your 5.

pappavike says:Mar 14, 2013 8:39 AM

Would love to to sign Cruz, The Vikes have an extra first round pick, Thanks to Percy, Jennings is still a good pickup as long as the Vikes don’t over pay for him!!

Well, getting Jennings would at least ease the pain of losing Percy. With 25 mil in cap space and having your 2nd best player traded away the Vikings absolutely must spend a little money to keep the fans from getting angsty.

And to all those “omg going to Ponder Jennings’ numbers are going to suck” people out there I think you are only looking at half the story. In GB Jennings has to share with other established WR’s. In Minny, he’d be “the guy”.

Last year Harvin averaged about 50% more receiving yards per game played than Jennings, despite the fact that Percy was used in non-wr roles and wasn’t on the field for every pass play.

Jennings would give the vikes a receiver who could actually run a route down field. Its not that ponder cant throw down field because coming into the draft he was the most accurate of the qbs. Last year they didnt have a receiver who could run a productive route down the field creating seperation.

Typical Vikes, looking at Jennings. Quite digging around in our trash and try drafting your own team. Looking at Urlacher too. Apparently Minnesota is the retirement home for the NFC North.

demo1984 says:Mar 14, 2013 8:49 AM

Percy was leading the league in receptions when he got hurt. Who was it that was throwing the ball to him ………………. Was is Rogers or Stafford, or Brees ????? Oh ya it was that Ponder dude.

Fans like you are the only ignorant ones who think like you. The players know Ponder can get them the ball, Harvins year last year proves it.

So why would you go from Rogers to Ponder ? because in Minnesota where they are in dire need of a stud #1 he would be the man just like Harvin was. I bet Jennings or any other reciever would love to be the primary target and lead the league in receptions.

Why wouldnt he want to leave Green Bay ? with Nelson, Cobb, Jones and Finley to throw the ball too there would be plenty of balls left Jennings wouldnt there.

Ever notice how when a player is a Packer, the fans think the player is a god. Yet the minute they move to the Vikings the fans all say “you guys sign all of our old washed up junk”. If they are so washed up, why would you even care? Personally, if I thought a player was so “washed up”, I would encourage him to go to a division rival!

The Vikings need an established WR, and Jennings is the best available. If there are Packer fans here who don’t like the possibility of Jennings going to a rival, then they need to get mad at the Packers for not signing him.

You know, I still think there are Packer fans upset about that week 17 loss. If the Packers win that game, they get the following week off, and end up hosting San Francisco the following week.

jimmysee says:Mar 14, 2013 9:02 AM

The fact that the Vikes appear willing to step up and pay Greg Jennings but were not willing to do so for the malcontent Percy Harvin speaks volumes.

Jennings will be 30 just shortly after the season starts and is injury prone …. what happened to Spielman’s youth movement …. and when these guys don’t sign it will be the famous quote “we drove up the price on a division rival to mess up their salary cap “

Just as AP would not be a 2000 yd back in the Packers offense, Jennings would not be a 1000 yd WR in the Vikes offense, its just the way they play. He fits best with the Pack, but if any team should over pay for his services, I hope it is the Vikes and not the Pack. Packers sign MAYBE a 1 or 2 FAs every year and the last with any impact was Woodson. If the Vikes front office was worth a damn, they wouldn’t have to pilfer other teams for talent (To no avail, just check your trophy case!)

clayshair says:Mar 14, 2013 9:08 AM

The Vikings signed ex-Packer Mossy Cade after he got out of jail – look it up!

justintuckrule says:Mar 14, 2013 9:09 AM

Jennings seems like a nice guy and is that anti diva teams are always looking for but I just don’t think he’s that good. I never understood the love fest with him. He’s not that fast, game changing no. 1 but more a solid no 2. Also, he’s an old 29.

funshipm174 says:Mar 14, 2013 9:10 AM

Geez, I’m a vikings fan, but how do you let a guy with talent like Jennings get away!

Just as AP would not be a 2000 yd back in the Packers offense, Jennings would not be a 1000 yd WR in the Vikes offense, its just the way they play. He fits best with the Pack, but if any team should over pay for his services, I hope it is the Vikes and not the Pack. Packers sign MAYBE a 1 or 2 FAs every year and the last with any impact was Woodson. If the Vikes front office wasn’t so worthless, they wouldn’t have to pilfer other teams for talent (To no avail, just check your trophy case!)

sampulls says:Mar 14, 2013 9:13 AM

Go here and Jennings will get the ball a ton!

nickynick04 says:Mar 14, 2013 9:16 AM

What a recipe for success.
Poach players from your division.
They ve been talking to Urlacher also.
No wonder they are pathetic losers.
The Vikes and the Eagles.
Zero Super Bowls…..
I wonder why

They would have to offer close to what he is seeking for Jennings to voluntarily go from Aaron Rodgers, one of the three best QBs in the game(and maybe THE best) to Ponder who is one of the five worst QBs in the NFL who couldnt hit a bull in the arse if he was standing in the bullpen with him.yes Gregg,sign with the Vikes and their vaunted passing game and lets see just how long you stay happy west of the Miss. River.

filthymcnasty1 says:
Mar 14, 2013 8:36 AM
I think this would be a great signing for the Vikings. And Jennings could show them what a ring looks like.

———————————————————————————————————————————————– didn’t favre do that? i agree with the viking fans saying get cruz, they seem to be the smart one’s. don’t get me wrong i like jennings i do. but he want’s 10 million or more a year! that’ way to much. if the viking’s sign greg i wish him the best. but trying to trade for victor cruz would be the smarter move imo.

purplepunisher says:Mar 14, 2013 9:23 AM

Maybe Jennings wants to sign with the Vikings so he can win! Something the Packers wont be doing alot of with that defense.

Ponder last game against Packers.

234 yards 3 TD’s, 0 int
Win 37-34

gbmickey says:Mar 14, 2013 9:28 AM

Jennings will be back in GB. He is just using what little leverage he has left to get a decent contract with GB. Really what qb and offense would you rather have with your last contract?

Dont forget William Henderson as another player the Vikings tried to pry away but didnt. Thats like 7 or 8, guess we know which team envies who.

That’s 6, including one just last year, and I didn’t even have to dig.

****************************

Really? Gurley? He was a practice squad player that never appeared in a game for the Vikes. Sorry, anyone that never actually played for the Vikes doesn’t count (including Kampman). Do Packer fans count Gilbert Brown as a former Viking? The Vikes drafted him, but cut him in camp for weight issues before the Packers added him (originally in desperation).

In the NFL, you can find numerous guys on teams that played for other teams previously.

mvp43 says:Mar 14, 2013 9:31 AM

You can have him……. he’s not the player he was otherwise the Packers would’ve extended him during the season.

steelerben says:Mar 14, 2013 9:37 AM

Why wouldn’t you want to sign a free agent from a division rival? I’m no fan of the Raven, not by a long shot, but I wouldn’t have turned my nose up at signing Boldin, Kruger, Reed, Ellerbe, or any of the others that left in as FA.

And weren’t all of the Vikings fans on here talking about how they’d rather have Jennings when Wallace was being linked to Minnesota?

1. This is toughie because it’s a catch 22 with Ponder. You feel committed, but this is definitely a make or break year. If Ponder ends up coming out this year and laying an egg, you don’t want to be strapped into a 30 year old WR making 8mil+ when you don’t have a QB. On the other hand, It’s not fair to Ponder to call it a make or break year if he literally has no one to throw the ball to again.

2. At first I understood the Antoine Winfield deal from a business perspective to free up that cap space. Every day that goes by where the Vikings don’t use that money it makes me feel like we shouldn’t have cut a veteran guy as embarrassingly as the Vikes did. If they aren’t going to use that money, it was a big mistake letting him go. I think fans and players will be upset if his departure seemingly goes for not.

Like the packers wouldnt take one of our players if it would help there team. This is like 5th grades talking about whose dad is tougher. I saw a dead deer in a ditch in wisconson, a man wearing cheese was on top of it.

Everyone is forgetting William Henderson, the old FB that was a stud for GB for years, ended his career with Vikings as well. They also brought in Favre, Sharper, Ferguson, Gurley, Longwell, Kampmann to an offer sheet (Which counts, because they “signed” him, just that GB could match), and Javon Walker. Now Greg Jennings? That’s without looking or researching, I know there’s more, but point has been proven.

Whether Viking fans want to admit it or not, there’s a trend there, and it’s a one way street. How many former Vikes, especially ones that they drafted and worked through their system, have the Packers signed? Gulp. Reason #458 that the Packers are clearly superior.

There is absolutely no question that the Minnesota Vikings are the most inept team on/off the field in the history of professional sports. Just a look at the last 35 years proves the point

ayhombre says:Mar 14, 2013 9:53 AM

Think: How many times have you heard Greg Jennings say he wants to be a Packer?

Answer: None. He hasn’t said it. He put his house up for sale and has made a point to pimp himself out like a ridiculous clown.

Think: Aaron Rodgers loves going to bat for his teammates and saying he wants them around. How many times has Rodgers verbalized that he wants Jennings back?

Answer: None

Conclusion: Something happened we don’t know about and there is zero chance Jennings is a Packer this year. Book it.

lemonhead7 says:Mar 14, 2013 9:55 AM

All this talk of taking FA’s within the division and who’s succeeded and how many this and that.. Blah blah. It only makes sense. If you can weaken a team by taking one of their stars and add them to your team you’d do it. It’s no different than recruiting the best player off your rival neighborhoods slow pitch softball team. Don’t do that! He played for “those” guys. It’ll only make your team better and weaken theirs. It’s all about competitive advantage. Jennings helps.

Well, I for one would love to see GJ stay in Green Bay but sadly the business side comes into play here. He will be missed not only as a player but a human being if he ends up leaving. If he goes to Minny, you guys are getting one of the classiest guys in the NFL and the country. I will always be a Jennings fan regardless of where he plays.

Absolutely love that the Pack fans on this site are tripping over one another to get a chance to make fun of the Vikings – means they really hate the possibility of Jennings becoming a Viking, which means I hope it happens even more.

This is much ado about nothing. It doesn’t matter if the Vikings signed Jennings…and then Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Deacon Jones in their prime.

They are the Vikings and they will find a way to screw it up. It’s what they do.

gbmickey says:Mar 14, 2013 10:49 AM

Purplepunisher you are embarrassing yourself with the Packers defense sucks comments. While i wouldnt mind improvement they finished less than 50yds and a couple points from being top 10, thus finishing #11. In both regards better than the Vikings. Do a little research before commenting.

ketch20too says:Mar 14, 2013 11:02 AM

Isn’t this the guy who said he would only go somewhere that had a solid QB? Just like Kruger signing with Cleveland shows…its ALL about the money with most of these guys.

It should be all about the money. Sorry, but none of us posting on here went to college to get smarter. We all did it to earn more money, period. These guys have a short window in which to make an enormous amount of cash, and loyalty in the NFL is not a two-way street. Get the $$, and be smart about how you manage it.

“3) You have to admit, Packer fans and Viking fans alike, former GB players have a pretty good track record with the Vikings (Favre, Longwell, Sharper come to mind).”

Former GB receivers don’t. (Robert Fergeson)

mineallmine001 says:Mar 14, 2013 12:34 PM

He is not worth the money he is asking. If the vikes want to drop that kind of scratch great. I think they overpaid then. I believe they over paid for favre and it hurt that team well beyond he tenure there.

GB has bigger needs and does not need to drop big money on a receiver. Linebacker r-back OLine

mineallmine001 says:Mar 14, 2013 12:39 PM

“So, if the Vikings acquire Jennings without breaking the bank to do so (maybe $5-6m /year tops) it could be a good move for the Vikings.”

Wont be less than 10m that is the offer he turned down from GB. rumor has it that he wants 12m

urcrap says:Mar 14, 2013 1:18 PM

packee fans should spend more time worrying and fretting over their real rival the bears but instead they spend far more time worrying on how the youngest team in the division is rebuilding to dominate the North. Just a short couple of seasons away but it’s coming.

If the Vikings do sign Jennings, they are wasting their money. Jennings is a down field threat and since that involves throwing the ball over 20 yards, do tell me how the Vikings are going to get him the ball?

Like I said, its a waste of money.

stellarperformance says:Mar 14, 2013 7:51 PM

Wow…. The Viking fans on this site are quite verbal regarding their dislike for Packer fans. I guess it is understandable. Jealousy breeds contempt. How else do you explain it? Just accept the Packers as superior to the Vikings and accept us as smarter NFL fans in general, and it will be easier to stop kicking your dog. Your whole family will appreciate it. I enjoy your expressed jealousy. I find it entertaining during the off-season. Thanks.

purpblooded says:Mar 15, 2013 10:15 AM

Packer fans are like “the Claymaker”, arrogant, obnoxious and overrated!